{"id":99705,"date":"2026-10-22T17:14:54","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T17:14:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/how-much-does-a-container-ship-cost"},"modified":"2026-10-22T20:03:14","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T20:03:14","slug":"how-much-does-a-container-ship-cost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/how-much-does-a-container-ship-cost","title":{"rendered":"How Much Does a Container Ship Cost? Prices of New and Used Cargo Ships"},"content":{"rendered":"<head><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\n    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n    \"@graph\": [\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"BlogPosting\",\n            \"headline\": \"How Much Does a Container Ship Cost? Prices of New and Used Cargo Ships\",\n            \"description\": \"How much does a container ship cost? New-build and second-hand prices by size, from feeders to 24,000 TEU giants, plus daily running costs, fuel and crew.\",\n            \"mainEntityOfPage\": \"https:\\\/\\\/cargoholidays.com\\\/how-much-does-a-container-ship-cost\",\n            \"image\": \"https:\\\/\\\/cargoholidays.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/09\\\/AdobeStock_416832706-1024x684.jpeg\",\n            \"datePublished\": \"2026-10-22\",\n            \"dateModified\": \"2026-10-22\",\n            \"inLanguage\": \"en-GB\",\n            \"author\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n                \"name\": \"CargoHolidays\"\n            },\n            \"publisher\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n                \"name\": \"CargoHolidays\",\n                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/cargoholidays.com\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n            \"mainEntity\": [\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"How much does a container ship cost?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"New ships range from about US$25 million for a small feeder to over US$200 million for the largest vessels.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"How much does the biggest container ship cost?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Ultra-large 24,000 TEU ships typically cost roughly US$200&ndash;270 million, depending on specification and market conditions.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"Can you buy a used cargo ship?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Yes. Second-hand ships are traded through brokers, and older small ships can cost a few million dollars.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"How much fuel does a container ship use?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"A large container ship can burn well over 100 tonnes of fuel a day at full speed. Slow steaming reduces this.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"How long does a container ship last?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Usually 20&ndash;30 years before recycling.\"\n                    }\n                }\n            ]\n        }\n    ]\n}<\/script>\n<\/head><div class=\"ch-post\"><p class=\"ch-updated\">Last updated: 22 October 2026<\/p><p><strong>Container ships are among the most expensive machines ever built.<\/strong> A brand-new giant can cost more than a fleet of jumbo jets, yet these ships carry goods so efficiently that shipping a pair of trainers across the world costs only a few pence. Here is what container ships cost to buy and to run.<\/p><h2>New-build container ship prices<\/h2><p>Prices depend on size, specification, the shipyard and the market. They also rise and fall with demand. As a broad guide:<\/p><div class=\"ch-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Size<\/th><th>Capacity<\/th><th>Indicative new-build price<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Feeder<\/td><td>1,000&ndash;3,000 TEU<\/td><td>Around US$25&ndash;50 million<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Panamax \/ intermediate<\/td><td>4,000&ndash;8,000 TEU<\/td><td>Around US$60&ndash;100 million<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Neo-Panamax<\/td><td>10,000&ndash;15,000 TEU<\/td><td>Around US$110&ndash;180 million<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ultra-large (ULCV)<\/td><td>18,000&ndash;24,000+ TEU<\/td><td>Around US$180&ndash;270 million<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><p>Ships designed to run on LNG or methanol cost more than conventional fuel oil designs. Most new container ships are built in China and South Korea, and some in Japan.<\/p><figure style=\"margin:1.6em 0\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/AdobeStock_416832706-1024x684.jpeg\" alt=\"Ultra-large container ship at sea\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:12px;display:block\" title=\"Ultra-large container ship at sea\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:.85em;color:#6b7280;margin-top:.45em;text-align:center\">The largest new container ships cost well over US$200 million.<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2>Second-hand container ship prices<\/h2><p>Used ships are valued on age, size, condition and the current charter market. A 20-year-old feeder may sell for a few million dollars, while a modern mid-sized ship can fetch tens of millions. When freight rates boom, second-hand prices can rise sharply.<\/p><h2>Scrap value<\/h2><p>At the end of their life, usually after 20&ndash;30 years, ships are sold for recycling. Their value depends on lightweight steel tonnage and scrap steel prices, typically in the low millions of dollars for a large ship.<\/p><h2>What does it cost to run a container ship?<\/h2><div class=\"ch-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Cost<\/th><th>What it covers<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Fuel (bunkers)<\/td><td>Often the biggest cost; a large ship can burn well over 100 tonnes a day at full speed<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Crew<\/td><td>Wages, food, training and crew changes for about 20&ndash;30 seafarers<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Port and canal fees<\/td><td>Pilotage, towage, berth fees, Suez or Panama transits<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Maintenance and dry-docking<\/td><td>Regular surveys and repairs<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Insurance<\/td><td>Hull, machinery, and protection and indemnity (P&amp;I) cover<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Financing<\/td><td>Loan repayments or charter hire<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><p>Many ships are <strong>chartered<\/strong>: owned by one company and hired by a shipping line. Charter rates range from thousands of dollars a day for small ships to well over US$100,000 a day for big ships in a strong market.<\/p><p>Read about the <a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/panama-canal-cargo-ship-transit\/\">Panama Canal<\/a> und <a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/suez-canal-cargo-ship-transit\/\">Suez Canal<\/a> transits, which are major costs on some routes.<\/p><figure style=\"margin:1.6em 0\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Cargo-Ship-Travel-Cargoholidays12-1024x706.jpg\" alt=\"Container ship berthed at a terminal\" width=\"1024\" height=\"706\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:12px;display:block\" title=\"Container ship berthed at a terminal\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:.85em;color:#6b7280;margin-top:.45em;text-align:center\">Every day in port and at sea costs the owner tens of thousands of dollars.<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2>Why carrying passengers makes sense<\/h2><p>Ships are built with spare cabins for supernumeraries. Some lines sell them to the public, earning a modest extra income from cabins that would otherwise be empty. That is why you can <a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/kannst-du-als-passagier-auf-einem-ladungsschiff-reisen\/\">mit einem Frachtschiff reisen<\/a> for around US$90&ndash;150 a day.<\/p><h2>Who buys container ships?<\/h2><ul><li><strong>Shipping lines<\/strong>, which own part of their fleet<\/li><li><strong>Tonnage providers<\/strong> (charter owners), which own ships and lease them to lines<\/li><li><strong>Investment funds and banks<\/strong>, which finance or own ships<\/li><li><strong>Small operators<\/strong>, which buy older feeders for regional routes<\/li><\/ul><h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2><div class=\"ch-faq\"><h3>How much does a container ship cost?<\/h3><p>New ships range from about US$25 million for a small feeder to over US$200 million for the largest vessels.<\/p><h3>How much does the biggest container ship cost?<\/h3><p>Ultra-large 24,000 TEU ships typically cost roughly US$200&ndash;270 million, depending on specification and market conditions.<\/p><h3>Can you buy a used cargo ship?<\/h3><p>Yes. Second-hand ships are traded through brokers, and older small ships can cost a few million dollars.<\/p><h3>How much fuel does a container ship use?<\/h3><p>A large container ship can burn well over 100 tonnes of fuel a day at full speed. Slow steaming reduces this.<\/p><h3>How long does a container ship last?<\/h3><p>Usually 20&ndash;30 years before recycling.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"ch-cta\"><strong>Experience a multi-million-dollar ship first-hand<\/strong><p>Travel as a passenger on a working container ship and see how it all runs.<\/p><a class=\"ch-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/anfrage-fur-eine-frachtschiffreise\/\">Get a cargo ship voyage quote &rarr;<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<style>\n.ch-post{font-family:inherit;line-height:1.7;color:#1f2937;max-width:820px;margin:0 auto}\n.ch-post h2{font-size:1.6em;margin:1.8em 0 .6em;color:#0b2545;border-bottom:3px solid #f5a623;padding-bottom:.25em}\n.ch-post h3{font-size:1.15em;margin:1.4em 0 .3em;color:#0b2545}\n.ch-post p{margin:0 0 1em}\n.ch-post ul,.ch-post ol{margin:0 0 1.2em 1.3em}\n.ch-post li{margin:.35em 0}\n.ch-post .ch-updated{font-size:.9em;color:#6b7280;margin-bottom:1.2em}\n.ch-post .ch-table{overflow-x:auto;margin:1.2em 0 1.6em}\n.ch-post table{border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;font-size:.95em}\n.ch-post th{background:#0b2545;color:#fff;text-align:left;padding:.65em .8em}\n.ch-post td{padding:.6em .8em;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;vertical-align:top}\n.ch-post tr:nth-child(even) td{background:#f6f8fb}\n.ch-post .ch-faq{background:#f6f8fb;border-radius:12px;padding:1em 1.4em;margin:1em 0 2em}\n.ch-post .ch-faq h3{margin-top:1em}\n.ch-post .ch-cta{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#0b2545,#13315c);color:#fff;border-radius:14px;padding:1.6em 1.8em;margin:2.2em 0;text-align:center}\n.ch-post .ch-cta strong{display:block;font-size:1.35em;margin-bottom:.4em;color:#fff}\n.ch-post .ch-cta p{color:#dbe4f0;margin:.2em 0 1.1em}\n.ch-post .ch-btn{display:inline-block;background:#f5a623;color:#0b2545 !important;font-weight:700;text-decoration:none;padding:.8em 1.6em;border-radius:999px}\n.ch-post .ch-btn:hover{background:#ffbb45}\n.ch-post em{color:#4b5563}\n<\/style>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How much does a container ship cost? New-build and second-hand prices by size, from feeders to 24,000 TEU giants, plus daily running costs, fuel and crew.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":99806,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"single3.php","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[356,118],"tags":[1579,1556,1580,1577,1578],"yst_prominent_words":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99705"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=99705"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99705\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":99726,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99705\/revisions\/99726"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99806"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=99705"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=99705"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=99705"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=99705"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}